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Exploding piggy bank to motivate saving

Exploding piggy bank - New motivator for saving
Exploding piggy bank - New motivator for saving

Greying Japan has a new weapon to scare people into saving for their retirement, an exploding piggy bank.

The Savings Bomb, which goes on sale in Japan next week, explodes and scatters coins if users fail to save for a long time, toy manufacturer TOMY said.

The battery-powered toy, right, is designed as a cartoon-style, ball-shaped black bomb with a skull and crossbones logo.

It lights up, makes a noise, shakes violently and scatters coins if it is not topped up for a long time.

Users must pick up and collect the scattered coins and reflect on their laziness, the Japanese company said.

Japan has the world's oldest population and one of the lowest birthrates, raising fears of a future demographic crisis with a smaller pool of workers financially supporting a growing number of elderly.